Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A company uses Microsoft Defender for Cloud's Just-In-Time (JIT) VM access to manage RDP connections to a critical jump-box virtual machine. The company has a CI/CD pipeline running on Azure DevOps agent pools that needs to periodically RDP into this VM to deploy software. The agent pool's source IP addresses are dynamic and change frequently. They want the pipeline to automatically request JIT access before each deployment without manual intervention. Which approach should they implement?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Best answer
Use the Azure REST API with a managed identity assigned to the DevOps agent to request JIT access, specifying the agent's current source IP address
The REST API endpoint for JIT allows programmatic requests. A managed identity on the agent (or virtual machine running the agent) provides secure authentication without secrets. The pipeline can fetch its current outbound IP and request JIT access for the required time.
B
Distractor review
Create a JIT access rule in Defender for Cloud with a scheduled time window that matches the pipeline's deployment schedule
Scheduling a JIT rule to open the port during expected times undermines the zero-trust principle of JIT. It leaves the port open for the entire window, even if no deployment occurs, increasing the attack surface.
C
Distractor review
Configure a PowerShell script in the pipeline to modify the network security group (NSG) to allow the agent's IP during deployment
Directly modifying NSGs bypasses JIT's centralized approval and auditing. It is less secure and harder to manage. The JIT REST API is the intended way to automate access while maintaining security controls.
D
Distractor review
Assign a static public IP to the Azure DevOps agent and add that IP to the JIT allowed list permanently
This would effectively disable JIT for that IP by making it always allowed, which violates the principle of just-in-time access.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Related practice questions
Related AZ-500 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A DevOps team wants Defender for Cloud to identify secrets exposed in GitHub repositories. What should be configured?
Question 2
A public web application should be protected from OWASP-style attacks and network-layer DDoS attacks. Which two Azure services are most relevant?
Question 3
A Sentinel scheduled rule runs every 5 minutes and looks back 1 hour. Analysts see repeated alerts for the same event. Which change best prevents duplicate detections without missing late-arriving logs?
Question 4
A SOC analyst needs a Sentinel query that detects multiple failed sign-ins followed by a successful sign-in for the same user. Which table is the best primary source?
Question 5
A Sentinel watchlist contains high-value administrator accounts. Which KQL pattern best uses it in a detection rule?
Question 6
A SOC wants a Sentinel rule to include account, host, and IP entities so analysts can pivot during investigation. What should be configured in the analytics rule?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-500 question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use the Azure REST API with a managed identity assigned to the DevOps agent to request JIT access, specifying the agent's current source IP address — The Azure REST API provides a programmatic way to request JIT access for a VM. By assigning a managed identity (system-assigned or user-assigned) to the Azure DevOps agent (or the compute resource hosting the pipeline), the pipeline can authenticate to Azure and call the REST API to request JIT access. The request can specify allowed source IPs (e.g., the agent's current IP) and a time window. This fully automates the process. Creating a permanent scheduled rule defeats the purpose of JIT. NSG modifications are manual and not recommended.
What should I do if I get this AZ-500 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
Discussion
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